Poetry Out Loud

About Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national contest, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, in which high school students memorize and recite poetry for an audience. The competition begins on a school-wide or local organization level, with the winners at each school advancing to the statewide competition. The winners from each US state and territory then compete at the National Finals.

Champions from each school-wide or organization contest are invited to compete at the West Virginia State Finals, usually held in the Norman L. Fagan State Theater at the Culture Center in Charleston. In addition to contestants from all over the state performing poetry, the event also features guest speakers and celebrated performers. Recent guests include storyteller and Vandalia Award winner Bil Lepp, poets Randi Ward and Doug Van Gundy, musicians Kaia Kater and Christian Lopez, and West Virginia’s poet laureate Marc Harshman.

For advice on coordinating an event and questions about classroom, school, and state contests, contact:
James D. Wolfe, Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
The Culture Center, State Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305
James.D.Wolfe@wv.gov
(304)558-0240

School & Organization Contests

• Teachers use the Poetry Out Loud Teacher’s Guide to incorporate standards-based curriculum and hold classroom contests. Winners from classroom contests go on to compete at the school level.
• Schools must hold a contest to select a champion.
• Contests must include at least two students, evaluated by Poetry Out Loud evaluation criteria
• Students recite one poem per round.
• Students must prepare at least 2 poems to recite at the school contest level.
• Scores from all rounds added to determine winner.

Registration and Release Forms

• School/Organization Registration Form
• Champion Registration Form
• Runner-Up Registration Form
• Teacher Registration Form
• Individual Student Registration Form (This form is only for students who did not compete in a school or organization competition.)
• Parent Release Form

Rules and Guidelines

• High school students in grades 9-12 (or 8th grade students in a participating 9-12 class)
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents (for state and national finals)
• Community organizations may choose to sponsor a POL competition for students who are unable to participate in a school-based competition.
• Schools or organizations must register with the Poetry Out Loud Coordinator by December 9, 2022. 
• Homeschool students and public school students at schools that are not participating may participate by competing in a contest at a local school or non-school organization or by registering directly with the State Arts Office at the individual student registration form link found above.

• Poems are selected from the Poetry Out Loud anthology (updated every summer)
• Students competing in the State Finals select 3 poems: one 25 lines or shorter; one written before the 20th century; same poem may meet both criteria